Tuesday 31 March 2015 19:36, UK
Fiona May insists racism is still rife in Italian football and they remain 20 years behind England.
The 1995 and 2001 long jump world champion - born in England but married to an Italian - was chosen by the Italian FA (FIGC) to front their anti-racism campaign, and she says change will take time.
May, who became an Italian citizen in 1994, told Sky Sports News HQ the FIGC are tackling the problem and she believes educating younger generations is vital if racism is to be eradicated.
May feels the problem is one the rest of Europe is struggling with too, but she refuses to shy away from the reality of racism, inside and outside of football stadiums.
“Unfortunately, I would say Italy is 20 years behind, like it was in England," May said. "It was going through a twilight zone. I am going through the same thing as my parents went through 20 or 30 years ago. It will take time but hopefully it will speed up a bit more.
“It is a case of changing the mindset of people; we need to continue to be positive. I am not saying the next 20 months will make a big difference, but it will make a change.
“It is not as big as I thought it is, but it is there, there is racism, especially in this stadium (Juventus' stadium in Turin) where it is unfortunately still rife. And it’s not only here in Italy but all over the rest of Europe.
“My aim is not just to go for the fans but the rest of the youngsters, their future is in their hands. So we need to talk to them and explain to them, racism in and outside the stadium does not have to exist. There is racism and I can’t deny the fact there is racism.
“We have made a very ambitious project for Italian culture in 20 cities in Italy, including Sicily and Sardinia, in 20 months. We still have to push on. It is not going to finish here.”
